Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67

Good morning, dear ones.

Rain happened in the night—but right now it’s back to clear and beautiful. Becki is already off and running—being called upon to set up and oversee a table to represent the BRAIN INJURY ALLIANCE OF OREGON at a big event at the NIKE plant in Hillsboro. When she left I did a clever little stunt to trick Dandy—I jumped in the car with Becki and rode to the end of the driveway out of Dandy’s view—then I did a jog on the road alone. I just heard Thano leave in his truck—heading out to process firewood at a nearby property.

May your day be a great one. I sure hope mine is great—as measured by crossing off a bunch of entries on my long list.

Love, Dad/Ray.

It’s hard for me to imagine going back to using an old typewriter again—not after becoming acquainted with this computer. Electronic and Cyber mail via the internet is pushing the former use of the postal and landline telephone systems to the brink of obsoletion. I remember my first acquisition and use of a GPS (Global Positioning Satellite system) in Vanuatu. Wow! What a leap ahead—out-stripping the old-fashioned methods of navigation! And now, my current cell phone even does GPS—besides functioning as a camera for both still photos and video. The list of examples could go on and on. Modern technology certainly has a way of making old stuff obsolete.

The word “obsolete” is found in our reading—describing the superiority of the NEW covenant under Christ as compared with the OLD covenant under Moses. “He (Christ) has made the first one OBSOLETE” (8:13).

I run the risk of being repetitious, but I’d like to draw your attention once again to the wonderful pronouncement of Colossians 1:27 because it so well represents the superiority of the NEW covenant of Christ. The OLD was characterized by an emphasis on the external observance of laws, codes, and sacrifices for sins. But the NEW is internal with the emphasis being “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” It makes possible the fulfillment of the OLD prophecy quoted here, “I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts” (8:10). Indeed, to walk in this newness of life is our only means to living free from fulfilling the old-man lusts of the flesh (Romans 6:4; Galatians 5:16).

Let’s not even think about returning to the OLD notion that we can be saved or made right by means of religious legalism. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery” (Galatians 5:1). It is good NEW Testament advice to PRACTICE HIS PRESENCE. That is, in fact, the NEW Testament in action—achieving real victory over sin, self, and Satan.